Appliance thermal management systems

Abstract

A thermal appliance is provided. The thermal appliance includes a heating compartment inside of an enclosure, with insulation disposed between the heating compartment and enclosure. Retainers or standoffs are also included in the thermal appliance to prevent air gaps from forming between the insulation and the heating compartment, and to prevent the insulation from making contact with the enclosure.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A thermal appliance comprising:
 an enclosure that includes an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface has a top, a bottom, a back, a front, a first side, and a second side;   a heating compartment within the enclosure, the heating compartment having an inner surface and an outer surface;   insulating material disposed between the outer surface of the heating compartment and the inner surface of the enclosure;   two or more standoffs attached to the enclosure that are configured to prevent air gaps from forming between the insulating material and the outer surface of the heating compartment and to prevent the insulating material from touching the inner surface of the enclosure, wherein the one or more standoffs include a first standoff connected to the first side of the enclosure at a first location and a second standoff connected to the first side of the enclosure at a second location.   
     
     
         30 . The thermal appliance of  claim 29 , wherein the one or more standoffs are posts. 
     
     
         31 . The thermal appliance of  claim 29 , wherein the one or more standoffs are metal wires bent into a “W” or a “M” shape. 
     
     
         32 . The thermal appliance of  claim 29 , wherein only the first standoff and the second standoff are attached to the first side of the enclosure. 
     
     
         33 . The thermal appliance of  claim 29 , wherein the first location is closer to the front and the top of the inner surface of the enclosure relative to the back and the bottom, and wherein the second location is closer to the back and the bottom of the inner surface of the enclosure relative to the front and the top. 
     
     
         34 . The thermal appliance of  claim 29 , wherein the first location is closer to the front and the bottom of the inner surface of the enclosure relative to the back and the top, and wherein the second location is closer to the back and the top of the inner surface of the enclosure relative to the front and the bottom. 
     
     
         35 . The thermal appliance of  claim 29 , wherein the first side of the inner surface of the enclosure has a top edge, a bottom edge, and two opposing side edges; wherein an axis extends through the first location and the second location; and wherein the axis is not perpendicular to the top edge, the bottom edge, and the two opposing side edges. 
     
     
         36 . The thermal appliance of  claim 29 , wherein the first standoff and the second standoff are connected by a retaining element. 
     
     
         37 . The thermal appliance of  claim 36 , wherein the retaining element is a metal wire. 
     
     
         38 . The thermal appliance of  claim 29 , wherein the one or more standoffs are made from an insulating material. 
     
     
         39 . A thermal appliance comprising:
 an enclosure that includes an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface has a top, a bottom, a back, a front, a first side, and a second side;   a heating compartment within the enclosure, the heating compartment having an inner surface and an outer surface;   insulating material disposed between the outer surface of the heating compartment and the inner surface of the enclosure;   two or more standoffs attached to each of the top, the bottom, the first side, and the second side of the inner surface of the enclosure;   wherein the standoffs are configured to prevent air gaps from forming between the insulating material and the outer surface of the heating compartment and to prevent the insulating material from touching the inner surface of the enclosure.   
     
     
         40 . The thermal appliance of  claim 39 , wherein the standoffs are posts. 
     
     
         41 . The thermal appliance of  claim 39 , wherein the standoffs are metal wires bent into a “W” or a “M” shape. 
     
     
         42 . The thermal appliance of  claim 39 , wherein only two standoffs are attached to at least one of the top, the bottom, the first side, and the second side of the inner surface of the enclosure; and wherein the two standoffs include a first standoff attached to a first location and a second standoff attached to a second location. 
     
     
         43 . The thermal appliance of  claim 42 , wherein the each of the top, the bottom, the first side, and the second side of the inner surface of the enclosure has a top edge, a bottom edge, and two opposing side edges; wherein an axis extends through the first location and a second location; and wherein the axis is not perpendicular to the top edge, the bottom edge, and the two opposing side edges. 
     
     
         44 . The thermal appliance of  claim 39 , wherein the first standoff and the second standoff are connected by a retaining element. 
     
     
         45 . The thermal appliance of  claim 44 , wherein the retaining element is a metal wire. 
     
     
         46 . The thermal appliance of  claim 39 , wherein the one or more standoffs are made from an insulating material. 
     
     
         47 . A thermal appliance comprising:
 an enclosure that includes an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface has a top, a bottom, a back, a front, a first side, and a second side;   a heating compartment within the enclosure, the heating compartment having an inner surface and an outer surface;   insulating material disposed between the outer surface of the heating compartment and the inner surface of the enclosure such that an air gap is provided adjacent to a bottom surface of the insulating material;   one or more standoffs attached to the inner surface of the enclosure that are configured to prevent air gaps from forming between the insulating material and the outer surface of the heating compartment and to prevent the insulating material from touching the inner surface of the enclosure.   
     
     
         48 . The thermal appliance of  claim 47 , wherein the one or more standoffs include a first standoff connected to the bottom of the inner surface of the enclosure at a first location and a second standoff connected to the bottom of the inner surface of the enclosure at a second location. 
     
     
         49 . The thermal appliance of  claim 48 , wherein the first location is closer to the front and the first side of the inner surface of the enclosure relative to the back and the second side, and wherein the second location is closer to the back and the second side of the inner surface of the enclosure relative to the front and the first side. 
     
     
         50 . The thermal appliance of  claim 48 , wherein the bottom of the inner surface of the enclosure has a top edge, a bottom edge, and two opposing side edges; wherein an axis extends through the first location and the second location; and wherein the axis is not perpendicular to the top edge, the bottom edge, and the two opposing side edges. 
     
     
         51 . The thermal appliance of  claim 48 , wherein the first standoff and the second standoff are connected by a retaining element. 
     
     
         52 . The thermal appliance of  claim 51 , wherein the retaining element is a metal wire. 
     
     
         53 . The thermal appliance of  claim 47 , wherein the one or more standoffs are posts. 
     
     
         54 . The thermal appliance of  claim 47 , wherein the one or more standoffs are metal wires bent into a “W” or a “M” shape. 
     
     
         55 . The thermal appliance of  claim 47 , wherein the one or more standoffs are made from an insulating material.